It is with an immense sense of loss that Interpeace announces the passing of Abdirahman Osman Raghe, a towering figure in the organizationโs peacebuilding work in Somalia and the greater Horn of Africa.
Raghe was founding Director of Interpeaceโsย Somali programmeย and Deputy Director of the Somali programme of Interpeaceโs forerunner, the War-Torn Societies Project (WSP). He spent over two decades with Interpeace in various capacities, and became one of the most important senior advisors. In 2013, he received a citation for his longstanding commitment to peace fromย Interpeaceโs Chairman Emeritus, former Ghanaian President John Kufuor.
Ragheโs personal history made him a uniquely knowledgeable, experienced, and respected observer of Somali development and political issues.ย In his earlier years, he had served as Permanent Secretary in Somaliaโs Interior Ministry until 1989, and later worked for UNDP. He returned from Canada in 1998 to help rebuild the peace in his native Somalia, which had fallen into the throes of a complex civil war during his time away.
Various colleagues and friends from the Interpeace family have described Raghe as an extraordinary peacebuilder, an exemplary father, husband and a dear friend. Johan Svensson, Interpeaceโs Senior Regional Advisor for Eastern and Central Africa, remembered the pivotal role that Raghe played in the establishment of Interpeaceโs Somali programme, as well as his influence on Interpeaceโs general direction as a peacebuilding organization.
โRaghe was a unique man. He guided the Somali programme to great achievements over the years and influenced Interpeaceโs path globally,โ Mr. Svensson said. โAs an organization, Interpeace benefitted from his wisdom in many ways. We will miss him, but his legacy will remain.โ
Interpeaceโsย Regional Director for Eastern and Central Africa (ECA), Jean Paul Mugiraneza, paid tribute to Ragheโs commitment to the cause of peace and his ever readiness to hold others by the hand and win them over to the cause.
โHe was a mentor to many, a true peacebuilder whose legacy remains with all of us,โ said Mr. Mugiraneza. โHe was a strong and loving person who was loved and admired, in return, by a whole circle of people that he touched during his lifetime. I am grateful to be one of these people.โ
Interpeaceโsย Director-General, Scott M. Weber, remembers how Raghe instilled inspiration and courage amongst his friends and colleagues.
โMany of us who grew professionally in Interpeace did so inspired by Ragheโs example and under his watchful eye,โย said Mr. Weber. โWhen Raghe spoke, we listened. And we learned. No matter what the subject, he always delivered his message with conviction and a deep sense of purpose but also with a hard-earned wisdom many of us may never achieve. If Interpeace were a village, he would have been one of our elders.โ
The entire Interpeace family extends its condolences to Ragheโs family, his many friends, colleagues and the entire Somali community.
Source: Interpeace